http://www1.skysports.com/football/...erpools-rickie-lambert-admits-fitness-concern I posted when he returned a week ealry to preseaosn saying he needed it to keep up that I was worried who the hell he was going to play off the bench i he needed more work to stay fit. now rickie Lambert has said his fitness was not up to it v middlesboro having done a full preseason and training between games. How much more do you guys think a slow 32 year old can actually do in training to be ready for a 10-20 min sub appearance and does this not just mean we are wasting our time with this guy and may as well now stick on borini as it might at least keep his value up and he can actually run?
I like the whole rickie lambert fairytale. But would rather see borini, ojo, dunn, yesil, sinclair get a go before him currently.
I find him saying this now a bit concerning. He returned from his summer break early saying he needed to get his fitness up to scratch with him being a older member of the squad etc. If that was the case, why is fitness a issue now? Was he full of hot air when he said it before or does he seriously have to fight that much for fitness?
I know its a nice fairytale like oh i dunno the natural for example. but if you return as a vet to your boyhood club you'd like to think that some fairy tale ending may be in store but right now i wonder if he'll even get a goal. its ealry on of course and his record in his prime (5 years from 26/7) with southampton was a goal every 2 games. but it was like watching kuyt for us who in the end couldn't keep up and get to anything so..... I think unless we are going to play hodgosn style and "load the box" and cross it.. i can't see goal or this fairy tale.... in theory if he socred a goal v basel i nthe CL to get us 2nd he'd have paid his 4mil transfer fee off in one go... or got us a cup.
I called it when he first signed - he would not be starting hardly any matches this season and should be used as an impact sub when we're trying to find a goal in the last 10-15 mins. I know he's only £4m but it's a waste and pointless signing in our attempt to replace Luis Suarez.
signed prior to suarez going to come on for sturridge i think..... never planned him being the go to without suarez involved IMO.... supporting fact is badontelly is a similar style player...
I don't think it is exclusively a Rickie problem. Lambert has 0 goals in 4 appearances; Borini has 0 in 3, Balotelli has only 1 in 4, Studge had 1 in 3. Not impressive and less so when you consider the supposed 'lesser' teams we have faced. This suggests to me we are not creating enough chances, which would be a midfield problem.
Everyone knew Suarez was leaving before he eventually left. Our strategy for replacing Suarez was farcical at times by targeting the likes of Bony, Remy etc - different types of striker altogether.
We are definitely creating less clear cut chances but I think that stems from the lack of movement from the guys up front plus we're missing the creative influence from Coutinho and Gerrard. Once Sturridge comes back, Ballo will have a proper partner, Sterling and Coutinho will have someone who moves and creates space.
I thought the decision to give Rickie was partly sentimental tbh. Not completely though as there wasn't much competition for the armband but I'd have thought Toure would have got it since he'd captained us before too. There is no room in this game for sentiment imo, something Gerrard gets too much of!
I do agree we are not creating chances... in fact i'd say we maybe create one chance max a game recently.... but its not only midfield its the whole team. the runs the forwards make take them away from goal and make it easy to sit off them and cover the goal. I agree jimmy that i hope when sturrdige returns this type of run will be made.... but badontelly and sterling need to make the same runs. In fairness to ricky he came on first game and then we scored as we started crossing it so we beat his old club as a result of his appearance (to some extent)
I've already said I'm disappointed in, and for, Rickie. I'd love to see him do well but he's shown nothing so far. I don't know if the "fairy tale" has left him over-awed or whether he just doesn't fit our system. I'd like to know what non-wumming Saints fans think of this. A lot of our forward passes so far this season have looked bad because the movement the passer is expecting is just not there. Mario likes the ball to his feet, and relies on strength and trickery to shake off his markers- neither he nor Lambert are giving the midfield the movement it requires. In the absence of Sturridge, I'd definitely have Borini on, because although his goal-scoring is modest, I think his running would provide the continuity and perhaps open up opportunities for Balotelli. It's quite shocking, and worrying, how we lack a cutting edge this season- so far.
well I think i am more worried about lamber's fitness concerns than his plan b usefulness/use in carling cup. If we toss him on our tactic should change to load the box. that's what he is... he cannot do much outside the box IMO. maybe he could 5 years ago or even 2 years ago but right now he looks purely a plan b tactic and thats fine for plan b but he's got ot be sharp enough to be able to get a headed goal or fire in a free etc if he's on.
A good forward should get a goal every other game. Our forwards combined have only scored 2 goals - and we're what about 6 or 7 games into the season now?
yes. 7 games 5 league 2 cups in fairness if a player is looking to improve his performance that's a good thing and if he feels he can work to do something that is a positive i suppose #forcedpositivity.
Fabio Borini hasn't scored in three! And big Rickie is also finding it tricky. Mr Coutinho has contributed zero Alberto Moreno scored a cracker though How do you like those rhymes?
#givesusoatry We need a creative player Lallana, Markovic and Coutinho have not been up to speed why not give Suso a go? It would certainly send a message to the others that if you don't perform there's someone here who is desperate to play.
If you include his previous run in the club it's probably quite scary how many appearances he has made for Liverpool since his last goal. Supposedly according to newspaper rumours (which are always true) - we're planning to sign Higuain for 45mill Euros but won't make the move until next summer. Studge, Higuain, Dick Orgy and Balotelli is much stronger than Studge, Balotelli, Borini and Lambert! And since the papers are saying we'll sign him- we almost certainly will!
